Youth Substance Abuse

Many young people today have taken up the vice of abusing drugs. There are many reasons why there are surging cases of drug abuse especially in their adolescence years. Research has shown that youths that are undergoing depression are more likely to indulge in youth substance abuse. Those that come from families with a history of drug abuse are also at a high risk of abusing drugs. Many adolescents feel lacking when it comes to fitting in some social groups and they will therefore turn to drug abuse to be accepted or to be seen as cool.

Youth substance abuse is also brought about by curiosity among the young people as they seek adventure with these drugs. Others will take them just because they feel ‘high’ when under the influence. Some youths turn to drug abuse in an effort to fell grown up, as they may have witnessed their superiors taking them too. The disturbing fact about substance abuse is that many do not know when to stop and when they do, it is too late. They end up destroying their lives and end up living pathetic lives full of dependence and worthlessness.

The consequences of youth substance abuse are many one of them being that they are unable to perform academically. Their grades take a nosedive since they have poor concentration and are absent from school most of the time. Many of them end up dropping gout of school as they continue to lack commitment to their studies. Their physical health also deteriorates since many of them suffer falls and car accidents from their ‘high’ states. Many of them often take drug overdoses and this impact negatively on their health. They share the needle with which they use to inject themselves with drugs and this has led to many of them contracting HIV Aids. They also tend to thrive on casual sexual relations, which expose them to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Another effect of youth substance abuse is a declining mental health occasioned by depression, withdrawal and other psychosocial deficiencies. Most of them also suffer personality disorders, attempted and actual suicide due to depression. They also risk loosing their memory and other psychomotor skills. Youth substance abuse has also led to strained family ties and friends. It is important for the youth to seek help when they find themselves involved in drugs though preventive measures have long-term effects.

Youth substance abusers will exhibit symptoms such as extreme sadness, hopelessness, phobia, irritability, and unexplained bouts of crying. They also seem to worry excessively and result to bizarre behavior. Many of them are engrossed with bad thoughts that include committing suicide. Their grades at school become too low and inconsistent and they tend to isolate themselves from family and friends. They become destructive and make dramatic changes to their appearances in the way they dress and could even spot tattoos and piercing. Some of them become negligent to their appearance and appear depressed. A guardian must take action, which includes seeking help from counselors, physicians, or therapists.